Apparatus for drying and powdering surgeons&#39; rubber gloves



1951 c. J. MILLER APPARATUS FOR DRYING AND POWDERING SURGEONS RUBBER GLOVES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 29, 1947 Aug. 21, 1951 c, J, MILLER APPARATUS FOR DRYING AND POWDERING SURGEONS RUBBER GLOVES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 29, 1947 Aug. 21, 1951 c. J. MILLER APPARATUS FOR DRYING AND "POWDERING SURGEONS RUBBER GLOVES 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 29, 1947 Patented Aug. 21, 1951 r UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE W I 2,5c5,455

APPARATUSFOR DRYING AN POWDERING SURGEONS RUBBER GLOVES Charles J. Miller, nacho, N. Y.; Catherine F. Miller administratrix of said Charles J. Miller,

deceased Application October 29, 1947, Serial No. 782,809

This invention relates to a drying and powderor apparatus for drying surgeons gloves after sterilizing the same and then powdering the interior of the gloves.

It is common to clean surgeons gloves by hand even in large hospitals, and in such places one person is engaged continually in cleaning and drying the gloves. Under this-old method, which is lengthy and messy, it has been necessary .to resort to the turning of the gloves inside out after being washed and then turning the gloves back into their condition of use, after which they were mounted on drying rack-s, sterilized after being dried, and then coated interiorly with talcum or similar powder so that they could easily 'beslipped onto the hands of the users. 1 All of such operations were eifected manually, necessarily limiting the number of gloves that could be taken care of within a given period of time.

"This invention has forone of its objects to provide a device or apparatus to which surgeons rubber gloves are applied in collapsed-condition, utilizing inverted cup-like elements as supports or holders for the gloves and introducing into the collapsed gloves, so appliedyhot air unless pressure so as to expand or inflate the gloves and cause the same to assume a'condition or formation such as they have when applied to a hand for use in operations, and for otherpurposes.

A further object of my invention is to provide novel supports for the glove, in which provision is made for stretching the open wrist-portion of the glove around a rim in an air-and water-tight manner, the stretch of the wrist portion being such that air under pressure, such as used for drying the interior of "the gloves, will not permit the glove'to be forced from its support or-holder; and further to provide in the support means for discharging water accumulating from the glove after the latter is expanded by air pressure issuing from'the support or holder.

My invention further has for its object to provide novel means for expanding the gloves applied 'to such supports or "holders, and for directing talcum or similar'powder againstthe interior-surfaces of all walls of the gloves so that,=upon-re- .moval from'their'supports or holders, they can 'be easilyslipped onto the "hands of surgeons using the same for performing operations or other purposes.

In' the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of my improved apparatus. i

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section through one of the glove supports or holders and the means for holding thesam-e in position and directing hot air from the same.

Fig. 3*is a horizontal section taken on lineI3-.3 Pig. '2. 4

-7 Claims. (01. 34-104) Fig. 4 is"a"'sectioha1 elevation of the heaterv chamber .or manifold, which is connected with the glove supports .01 holders. 7

Fig. 5 is a vertical section through he powder distributing device by means of which powder applied to the interior surfaces of the various parts of .a surgeonsglove when expanded under pressure accompanying the distribution of the powder. d

.Fig. 6 is ahorizontal section taken on line 6-6 Fig. .5.

Fig. Tis a horizontal section taken on line .1--1 Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a .plan view of the support or holder used when powdering the gloove.

Reference being had to the drawings in detail, if) designates a pan or receptacle designed to be mounted one table H or other suitable support so to position the device atan elevation convenient to apply the gloves .to be treated thereto, andto receive the water flowing from the gloves. This pan .may be of any suitable construction but, if desired, can be dispensed with and the device supported in any other suitable manner. When used, however, a hot .air chamber, in the form of a manifold I2, is placed within the pan or receptacle, and in :the form shown is .constructed of a length of pipe [3 having headers l4 applied thereto to close the .ends of the pipe inan air-tight manner.

An air inletpipe I5 is threaded into the pipe at a suitable i56int in its length, and this pipe i5 is shown in the drawing as passing through the table t i and flue bottom of the pan or receptacle I0.

Air distributing or outlet pipes i6 are threaded into the'hot-air chamber or manifold so as to extend upwardly therefrom, they being .held against lateral or swaying movement by passing them through openings in-axportion of thereceptacle or pan extending across the open top thereof, and mounted on the upper end of these air distributing or outlet pipes are supports or holders H for surgical or other rubber gloves, illustrated by dotted lines "L8 in :Figs. 1 and '5 of the drawings. The gloves in Fig. 1 are shown expanded while a portion of the glove is shown in collapsed condition in Fig. 5 and assumes the position it may have when applied to the support .or holder.

As clearly shown in Fig. 2, each support .or holder .is'in theform of ;an inverted cup, preferably stamped of aluminum, although ,any other type of material suitable for the-purpose may he used, and :it'has-an axialopening l 9 at itszupper lend through which a headednipple 2.fl.-is;pas s ed,

gloves applied thereto, while one or more may be used for powder-coating the interior' of the gloves after being dried. In the drawingswe have shown a series of four drying supports or holders and a single support or holder forming part of a powderapplying device. Each air distributing or outlet pipe lfi iypr'cvided with a hand valve 2|, by means of which the flow of air through the pipe may be controlled.

As stated, each support or holder is in the form of an inverted cup, necessarily open at its lower end and the free edge of its peripheral wall is formed into a bead 22 so as to provide a smooth rounded rim, for a purpose to appear hereinafter.

The peripheral wall of each of the supports or holders is corrugated to form substantially vertically-disposed external grooves and ridges 23, 24, respectively, so that when a rubber glove is placed 7 over the support or holder in the position shown in Fig. 5, and air is introduced into the deflated glove from the pipe Hi, the glove becomes expanded, but due'to the size of the wrist of the glove this portion of the glove lies in contact with the vertical ridges, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and this condition is maintained when introducing air into the deflated glove so as to expand the same and assume the position of an outstretched hand; it being, of course, understood that in applying the glove to the support or holder I! the wrist portions of the gloves are placed over the holders and stretched, being drawn downwardly over the rounded rim or bead 22 and contracted underneath the holder, as

shown, the normal opening in the glove being smaller in diameter than the corrugated body of the support or holder. The rounded rim or bead 22 permits the gloves to be easily slipped onto the supports or holders and assures against tearing or other damage to the gloves.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the corrugated peripheral wall of the support or holder is flared .outwardly before forming the rounded rim or .bead 22 thereon, and in the flared portion prefer- :ably in line with each groove 23, is an opening 25 :for a purpose to appear hereinafter.

Within the chamber or manifold 12 an electric heater 23 is arranged, preferably one replaceable, and for this purpose I prefer the use of a heat-element which is threaded into a socket 21, in the manner of threading an electric bulb into a socket. This socket is secured to one of the headers l4 in any approved manner having in mind to properly insulate the same from the header, and in the header an insulation plug 28 may be placed through which the current conducting wire 29 is passed by means of which electric current is carried to the heating element.

When preparing gloves for surgical use or for other purposes demanding hygienic conditions, the gloves are washed in the usual way and while wet are stretched over the supports or holders 11; it, of course, being understood that the valves 2| are closed. After applying the gloves to the holders the water on the exterior thereof drips therefrom and enters the receptacle or pan l3. Upon opening the valves the gloves are expanded by the heated air escaping from the chamber or manifold i2, assuming substantially the position shown in Fig. l for each glove. When expanded the water from the gloves trickles down the interior surfaces of all parts thereof and enters what may be termed a slight annular trough 30, formed at the bottom of each support or holder inside of its bead or rim 22, escaping are all forced into the powder.

3 in large quantities each day, and prolonged use of the apparatus will result in the accumulation of considerable water in the pan or receptacle I0, I have designed the receptacle so its bottom incli'nes toward one end thereof and at said end a pet-cock 3| is provided by means of which the pan or receptacle can be drained.

By using hot air at a sterilizing temperature for drying the gloves, the latter are further conditioned for use when fully dried by distributing thereinto a quantity of talcum or other powder of the nature used by doctors and nurses, after which they are placed in cellophane bags or containers, or otherwise protected in a sanitary manner, so that they are always available for immediate use, and for this purpose I have provided a powder-distributing device 32. This device comprises a glass or other container 33, in which talcum or other powder 34 is placed to be gradually distributed therefrom. In the form in which I now use this container it has its upper end open and a cap 35 is threaded or otherwise applied thereto to close the same. Secured to the cap 35 and depending therefrom is a tube 36, comprising an upper imperforate section 31, a lower imperforate section 38 terminating at its lower end a distance from the bottom of the container and an intermediate foraminous section 39, preferably in the form of a fine screen. This tube is open at its lower end and its upper end is attached to a nipple 40 passed through the cap 35 and held in place by a fitting 4| in the form of an elbow, or otherwise, forming part of one of the air distributing or outlet pipes [6 connected to the hot air chamber or manifold l2.

Fitted into the nipple 40 and depending therefrom coaxially with the tube 36 is an imperforate tube 42, which terminates at its lower end in the tube 36, preferably beneath the foraminous intermediate section thereof.

A tube 43 extends downwardly into the receptacle through the cap thereof and also upwardly therefrom, and on this tube one of the supports .or holders I1 is mounted in the manner hereinbefore defined. This support or holder is similar to those used for drying the gloves, with the exception that the openings 25 in the latter are omitted. That portion of the tube 43 within the container is provided with a series of perforations 44 along its length and is preferably closed at its lower end. When openin the valve 2| in the air distributing or outlet pipe connected to said powder-distributing device, hot air is directed into the tube 42 and against the powder within said tube, which enters the lower portion of th latter, as shown in Fig. 5, due to the fact that the tubes depending from the cap The force of the air directed against this powder forces the latter through the foraminous section of the tube 36 and plays against the portions of the powder surrounding the latter with the result tions 44 in the tube 43 and directs the same upwardly within the latter so as to escape from the support or holder mounted thereon, the powder being dusted against the interior surfaces of the glove, which becomes expanded under the pressure accompanying the distribution of the powder so that all portions of the fingers and thumb of the glove, as well as the body portion thereof become thoroughly powdered.

It is to be noted that the pressure is naturally reduced by reason of its force being expended within the powder receptacle and therefore no openings, such as 25, are required in this particular support or holder. Thus the possibility of wasting powder by reason of its escaping through such openings and soiling surroundings is entirely obviated.

While I have shown and illustrated a particular type of powder-distributing device, it will be apparent that any device in which air under pressure is used, capable of ejecting regulated quantities of powder from a receptacle and distributing the same as it reaches the interior of the glove, may be substituted for the distributing device shown and described, especially any means which will inflate the glove while -distributing the powder into the same.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is:

1. An apparatus for drying rubber gloves, comprising a glove holder of inverted cup-like formation having a corrugated exterior surface formin vertical grooves and ridges over which the wrist part of a glove is to be stretched so that the free end portion of the wall of said wrist part is contracted underneath said holder, said glove holder being provided with drain openings at its lower end, and means to introduce air into and expand the portion of the glove above said holder to permit the water adhering to the interior surfaces of the expanded portion of said glove to pass down along the grooves on the exterior surface of said glove holder and escape through said drain openings.

2. An apparatus for drying rubber gloves, comprising a glove holder having a corrugated eX- terior surface and an outstanding rim at its lower end over which the wrist portion of a glove is to stretched, a hot-air pipe connected axially to said glove holder and opening into the glove; to introduce air into and expand the glove for the purpose of drying the same interiorly, and drain openings at the lower end of said glove holder to dispose of the water flowing from the interior surfaces of the glove.

3. An apparatus for drying rubber gloves, comprising a glove holder having a vertically corrugated exterior forming grooves and an outstanding rim at its lower end over which the wrist portion of the glove is to be stretched, and means to introduce hot air into and expand the glove for the purpose of drying the same interiorly and exteriorly, said holder having waterescape openings surrounded by said outstanding rim to permit the escape of water passing down the interior surfaces of all portions of the expanded glove through communication with the interior of the love established by said grooves.

4. An apparatus of the kind described, comprising a pan, a hot-air chamber, a pipe leading to the latter from a source of compressed air, an air-heating element within said hot-air chamber, a pipe leading from the latter and having its upper end terminating above said pan, and a glove holder secured to the upper end of said pipe and over which the wrist portion of a rubber glove is to be stretched and held against accidental removal, said holder comprising an upwardly diminished body-portion having an outstanding rim at its lower end underneath which the free end of said wrist portion is contracted and an annular trough within said rim, said trough being provided with water-escape openings.

5. In a drying apparatus, a hot-air pipe, and an inverted cup-like glove holder secured axially at its upper end to one end of said pipe and having a. rim at its lower end over which the wrist portion of a glove is to be stretched and underneath which said Wrist portion is contracted to hold the glove against accidental removal, said hot-air pipe serving to direct heated air into said glove to expand and dry the same, vertically-disposed grooves formed in the peripheral wall of said glove holder along which water from the interior surfaces of the various parts of the glove passes, and water escape openings formed in the rim of said glove holder.

6. In an apparatus of the kind described, a pan, an air-heating chamber within said pan formed of a length of pipe and headers applied to opposite ends thereof in an air-tight manner, an electrical heating-element within said pipe, an air-inlet pipe connected to said air-heating chamber and leading to a source of compressed air, said air-inlet pipe directing air into said chamber to be heated by said heating-element, a series of hot-air distributing pipes connected to said chamber, and inverted cup-shaped glove holders secured to the upper ends of said hot-air distributing pipes over which the wrist portions of rubber gloves are to be stretched, said holders being disposed above said pan, and water and air-escape openings in the walls of said holders, the air from said hot-air distributing pipes expanding the gloves on said holders and drying the same externally and internally while permitting water adhering to the internal surfaces of said gloves and heated air delivered into the expanded gloves to escape through said water and air-escape openings.

7. An apparatus for drying rubber gloves, comprisin an inverted cup-like glove holder having a free lower edge and an outstanding rim at said edge over which the wrist portion of a glove is to be stretched and underneath which the free end of said wrist portion is contracted to prevent accidental removal of the glove from said holder; said rim forming a circular trough and said trough having water escape openings capable of disposing of the water flowing from the interior surfaces of the various parts of a glove.

CHARLES J. IVIILLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 434,741 Thame Aug. 19, 1890 1,450,033 Gowan Mar. 27, 1923 1,648,828 Scott Nov. 8, 1927 1,731,272 Schrenkeisen Oct. 15, 1929 1,876,251 Lehman Sept. 6, 1932 1,969,953 Swartz Aug. 14, 1934 2,340,206 Richards Jan. 25, 1944 2,440,398 Fenwick Apr. 27, 1948 2,487,046 Dufi et a1. Nov. 8, 1949 

